Backflow Prevention

Coronavirus Notice

Your personal safety, and limiting the potential spread of the Coronavirus, is Cal Water’s priority. As you know, the majority of our service areas are just one month into the annual backflow prevention assembly testing cycle. Many California counties have issued shelter-in-place advisories, and non-essential travel restrictions are being considered. Cal Water wants to remind our testers that these types of protective measures for COVID-19 take precedence over our annual backflow prevention assembly testing schedule. The June 15, 2020 due date in most of our service areas will currently remain in place; however, the automatic courtesy extension provided to our customers will be evaluated and adjusted to offset lost time. To protect the water supply, any failed assemblies must continue to be repaired.

Cal Water will postpone generating new installation letters and temporarily suspend enforcing installation requirements for existing service connections. New construction, where work is continuing, will need to comply with installation requirements prior to establishing water service.

The current circumstances are constantly changing, so communication is key. Please contact your local Cal Water Cross-Connection Control Specialist if you have any questions about completing work. Thank you for your diligence in ensuring the safety of the water supply, and stay healthy.

Backflow Tester Resource List

Testers who want to be included on the Cal Water tester resource list must attend a Backflow Tester Meeting. In addition they are required to submit a tester information sheet and provide evidence of backflow prevention assembly tester certification from either the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association or the American Backflow Prevention Association along with their backflow test kit calibration. Testers are responsible for providing the Cal Water districts in which they test with any updates to certification and test kit calibration throughout the year in order to maintain their list eligibility.

Cross Connection Control Program Resource List

Reference

• Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies
• Installation Specifications
  • Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly ≤2 inches
  • Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly and Reduced Pressure Principle Detector Assemblies ≥3 inches
  • Double Check Detector Assembly
• Cross Connection Control Program Quick Reference Guide
• EPA Cross Connection Control Manual
• Rule 16: Service Connections, Meters, and Customer’s Facilities
• AWWA Certification
• ABPA Certification